TRAVELLING THROUGH COUNTRY

8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS

DEPARTING MONDAY

From ocean to outback, South Australia showcases incredible natural diversity, and there’s no better way to explore the multi-faceted state than with a handpicked itinerary through its coastal towns to the magnificent Flinders Ranges. From there the heart of the outback opens up before you, and your adventure aboard The Ghan from Adelaide to Alice Springs will leave you with memories that last long after the journey ends.

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Your journey begins when you arrive in the cosmopolitan city of Adelaide. There is a lot to explore in the renowned foodie capital, check in to your accommodation and spend the day exploring at your leisure.

Today you will travel north along the eastern side of Spencer Gulf, stopping along the way at historical coastal towns. Learn about their rich maritime history, and take a stroll along the wooden jetty at Port Germein, a once-bustling port.

The backdrop for your gourmet picnic lunch will be Mount Remarkable National Park, where you will be surrounded by stunning 600-million-year old rock formations and an abundance of native wildlife. If you enjoy bushwalking, experience a one-hour guided walk along beautiful tree-lined creek beds, with spectacular views along the way.

Continue your journey across one of the oldest mountain ranges on earth, through the picturesque Pichi Richi Pass, and on to historic Quorn. With its typical outback buildings and the original Ghan Railway Station, the small town has been the setting for a number of iconic Australian films. Follow in the path of the early explorers and head to Warrens Gorge Conservation Park to search for the rare and elusive yellow-footed rock wallabies. Dramatic rock formations and outcrops harbour these endangered wallabies, with an estimate of only 8,000 living in the wild.

Sit back in the 4WD as you head along rough and dusty outback tracks through the deserted Willochra Plain, a place where eagles soar and emus run free. Along the way, you will have the chance to wander deserted ghost towns, a poignant reminder of the area’s early history and the hardship faced by pioneers who survived temporarily, but ultimately gave way to the unforgiving desert conditions.

Today, prepare for a flight you’ll never forget. Your first breathtaking scene is the Flinders Ranges from above, as you head toward the awesome spectacle of Wilpena Pound and Brachina Gorge before tracking north to the fabled Lake Eyre. Fly over Parachilna, Leigh Creek and Lake Harry. After marvelling at the wonders of this mammoth inland salt lake in the middle of the desert, you will land at the outback town of William Creek (population: 4), and experience lunch at a remote pub where the locals gather.

Your return trip back to Wilpena Pound will see you fly over the Andamooka opal fields and Lake Torrens, and then cap off a magnificent day with a real Aussie barbeque around the campfire. (B,L,D)

DAY FOUR – BUNYEROO AND BRACHINA GORGES

This morning your expert guide will take you through the spectacular Bunyeroo Gorge, visiting secluded areas of great natural beauty. You will travel through the rugged creek beds of Brachina Gorge, an area with flourishing wildlife and with fascinating geology dating back millions of years.

The landscapes you see here are those that inspired world-renowned South Australian painter, Sir Hans Heysen. After a picnic lunch, immerse yourself in the ancient landscape, take that special photo, or simply soak up the most spectacular outback scenery Australia has to offer - the wealth of wildlife is a bonus. (B,L,D)

DAY FIVE – FLINDERS RANGES TO ADELAIDE

Join your guide on an hour-long bushwalk to an Aboriginal art site where the traditional custodians, the Adnyamathanha people, have left rock art depicting their ceremonies over thousands of years. Travel back along the eastern side of the mountains with spectacular red gum-lined creeks to Melrose, the oldest town in the Flinders Ranges.

South Australia is home to world-famous wine regions, and you will have a chance to see why with a stop in the famous Clare Valley. Sample one of the premium local wines before concluding your day back in Adelaide.